More teeth for CBI, CVC
10 Nov 2012 5:16 AM IST
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Vinod Rai has once again put the government in a spot by saying that it were taking decisions in a brazen manner. Speaking at the World Economic Forum meeting, Rai did not mince words in calling government’s decision-making process to be appalling.
Such words from the head of a constitutional body invites both concern and criticism. Concern because Rai has skippered his team to unearth several anomalies in government policies, which has been vehemently contested by the latter claiming that the former could not comment on policy matters. However, this issue was settled by the Supreme Court which said that a CAG was not expected to act just as a munim (accountant). ‘It is the duty of the CAG to look into efficient use of resources,’ the apex court had opined last month hearing a public interest litigation challenging the CAG audit related to coal blocks allocation. Now the criticism.
Reacting to his comment, Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tewari said that if the CAG was talking about the decision-making of the UPA government, he needs to be reminded that he too was part of it from 2004-2008. This raises the larger issue of the pusillanimous nature of the Indian bureaucrats, who, on retirement, find everything wrong with the government of which they were an integral part. The cause of governance could be helped if bureaucrats while in service show similar wisdom in action, which they distribute on retirement. However, in this din created by the tit for tat exchange between the CAG and the minister, the sight of more important issues raised by the top auditor should not be lost. Rai in his address also sought constitutional status for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to make them effective instruments for fighting corruption. This has been a long time demand, coming from various sections. The CBI especially invites a lot of criticism for its conduct of investigations in matters relating to political bigwigs. The UPA, especially its chairperson Sonia Gandhi, has often claimed that it was at her party’s initiative that the Right to Information (RTI) Act was passed, which has made the government accountable like never before. The CAG has urged for a similar courage to give constitutional status to the CVC and the CBI, which will help establish their credibility and curb corruption in public life and government. Instead of a quick repartee to the CAG, the government should instead give a thought to the points raised by the veteran bureaucrat.
Such words from the head of a constitutional body invites both concern and criticism. Concern because Rai has skippered his team to unearth several anomalies in government policies, which has been vehemently contested by the latter claiming that the former could not comment on policy matters. However, this issue was settled by the Supreme Court which said that a CAG was not expected to act just as a munim (accountant). ‘It is the duty of the CAG to look into efficient use of resources,’ the apex court had opined last month hearing a public interest litigation challenging the CAG audit related to coal blocks allocation. Now the criticism.
Reacting to his comment, Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tewari said that if the CAG was talking about the decision-making of the UPA government, he needs to be reminded that he too was part of it from 2004-2008. This raises the larger issue of the pusillanimous nature of the Indian bureaucrats, who, on retirement, find everything wrong with the government of which they were an integral part. The cause of governance could be helped if bureaucrats while in service show similar wisdom in action, which they distribute on retirement. However, in this din created by the tit for tat exchange between the CAG and the minister, the sight of more important issues raised by the top auditor should not be lost. Rai in his address also sought constitutional status for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to make them effective instruments for fighting corruption. This has been a long time demand, coming from various sections. The CBI especially invites a lot of criticism for its conduct of investigations in matters relating to political bigwigs. The UPA, especially its chairperson Sonia Gandhi, has often claimed that it was at her party’s initiative that the Right to Information (RTI) Act was passed, which has made the government accountable like never before. The CAG has urged for a similar courage to give constitutional status to the CVC and the CBI, which will help establish their credibility and curb corruption in public life and government. Instead of a quick repartee to the CAG, the government should instead give a thought to the points raised by the veteran bureaucrat.
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